Laundry Soap

Most surfactants in soaps are made from corn, soy or coconut, and many people with allergies or sensitive skin have problems with commercial laundry detergents.

Depending on the type of bar soap you use, this laundry soap can be made free of corn, soy, coconut and other common allergens. Any soap you can tolerate for washing yourself should be tolerated in a laundry soap. If you like, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil or tea tree oil for a nice scent and some extra antibacterial qualities.

Dry:

Grate a bar of your favorite soap to make soap flakes (many people like to use Fels Naptha; I used Kiss My Face Pure Olive Oil Soap) with a cheese grater or shred it with a knife.

Mix 1 cup (probably half a bar of soap) of soap flakes with
1/2 cup borax and
1/2 cup washing soda

Use about a tablespoon per load of wash (2 tablespoons for a large or heavily-soiled load).

Fill the bleach dispenser with vinegar if desired to help wash out any soap residue. (Use a white vinegar such as rice or white wine vinegar if you can't tolerate the regular corn-derived distilled white vinegar. Apple cider vinegar will stain your clothes.)

Liquid:

Melt 1 cup soap flakes in about 4-6 cups of water over low heat on your stove.
Add 1/2 cup Borax and 1/2 cup washing soda, and stir until dissolved and a bit thickened.

Pour into a bucket or large bowl and add about a quart (4 cups) of hot water. Stir. Add enough cold water to make about 2 gallons of soap.

Pour into containers with lids (buckets, large plastic storage containers or empty, clean jugs would work) and let cool. You can use this right away, but it may take 24 hours to thicken like regular laundry soap. If it seems too thick, use less or add more water.

I use a soup ladle and put between 1/2 cup and 1 cup in my front-loading washer. You may need to experiment with the amount needed for your washer and water quality.

Fill the bleach dispenser with vinegar if desired to help wash out any soap residue. (Use a white vinegar such as rice or white wine vinegar if you can't tolerate the regular corn-derived distilled white vinegar. Apple cider vinegar will stain your clothes.)

Notes for either type of soap:

I always add an extra rinse in addition to using the vinegar, because we have very sensitive skin in my household.

Washing soda and borax can be found near the laundry soaps in most grocery stores. Look on the top or bottom shelf in an inconspicuous place like behind a pillar. No, really. You may have to ask a store employee to help you find it, and even they may not know where it is, but most large grocery stores do seem to carry it.

Be careful with washing soda; it is caustic and will irritate your skin. You should wear gloves when handling it and wash it off right away if it gets on your skin.

Washing soda and baking soda are both made by Arm & Hammer, but they are not the same thing. Washing soda, or sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), has a PH of 11 (7 being neutral). Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), has a PH of 8.1. Washing soda is about twice as strong a base as baking soda.

If you can't find washing soda in your grocery store, look for 100% sodium carbonate swimming pool PH adjuster in a pool supply store. Or you can contact Arm & Hammer directly.

20-Mule-Team Borax by Dial Corp. seems to be the most commonly available brand of Borax. Borax is Sodium Tetraborate Decahydrate (Na2B4O7*10H2O).

Please note that soap-based cleaners are usually not recommended for washing diapers. Supposedly they will cause buildup that makes the diapers less absorbent. Most people recommend using a detergent rather than a soap for this purpose.